Advocates for Africas Children, Inc.

“With only 5 per cent of the world's population, Eastern and Southern Africa is home to half the world's population living with HIV. Today the region continues to be the epicentre of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with 48 per cent of the world's new HIV infections, 55 per cent of the world's new HIV infections among children, and 48 per cent of the world's AIDS related deaths. The Southern Africa sub­region, in particular, experiences the most severe HIV epidemics in the world. At an estimated 26.0 per cent, Swaziland has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the world.” (UNICEF.org) Swaziland has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the world, leaving behind an estimated 100,000 orphans in a country with just under 1 million people. With AIDS taking so many of the family breadwinners and parents, too many orphans are left to the care of family members too old or poor to care for them. The children are too often hungry and malnourished. Boys and girlsresort to exchanging sex or menial work for a meal. Provision of basic necessities gives the children hope for a better future and prevents abuse.